♪Let your heart not be weary, leave your troubles at the door♪ ♪We’re still at war Raise your glass and toast♪ ♪We won't worry anymore♪ ♪Ever since the dawn of time they’ve been♪ ♪faulting us for all life’s strife and pain.♪ I'm Glenn Richards and this is Amplified.

Showcasing some awesome bands for your listening pleasure.

On this episode, get ready to roll up the carpet and have a Hootenanny hoedown, because we have got Gainesville's beloved band, The Ones to Blame, playing songs, fan favorites from their two albums From their self-titled debut album in 2006.

We're “Thinking About Drinking” with The Ones to Blame on Amplified.

♪♪I've been thinkin’ about drinkin’ all day long ♪ ♪I've been sittin’ here by the phone♪ ♪hopin’ you would call♪ ♪Well, I have had enough♪ ♪I’m going to get me some of that whiskey stuff♪ ♪and tomorrow morning I won't remember you at all♪ ♪Where I'll be♪ ♪one Budweiser.♪ ♪I’ll be a jagermeister♪ ♪Makin’ my mark and going home with old Jose♪ ♪Well, I know you said that you would♪ ♪always be my friend♪ ♪But can you blame me♪ ♪for wanting more every now and then?♪ ♪Well I have seen the light♪ ♪bartender get it right♪ ♪’cause I'm walkin’ down a whiskey road♪ ♪til I reach the end.♪ ♪Where I'll be♪ ♪one Budweiser♪ ♪I’ll be a jagermeister♪ ♪Makin’ my mark and going home with old Jose♪ ♪Well I'm beginning to see the light♪ ♪bartender get it right♪ ♪’cause I'm walkin’ down a whiskey road♪ ♪til I reach the end.♪ ♪Where I'll be♪ ♪one Budweiser♪ ♪I’ll be a jagermeister♪ ♪Makin’ my mark and going home with old Jose♪ ♪Makin’ my mark and going home with old Jose♪♪ ♪♪Well hold me down♪ ♪This whole thing's blowing up♪ ♪And there ain't♪ ♪no cellar this far above sea level♪ ♪The match is struck and it’s touched me off♪ ♪Now the countdown’s started♪ ♪We’ll soon be broken hearted♪ ♪Well hold me down, this whole thing’s♪ ♪blowing up♪ ♪And there ain't no cellar♪ ♪this far above sea level♪ ♪The match is struck♪ ♪and it's touched me up off♪ ♪Now the countdown’s started♪ ♪We’ll soon be broken hearted♪ ♪There ain't no secrets in the♪ ♪streets and bars of this little Florida town♪ ♪And things are getting back to me, baby♪ ♪And frankly, I don’t like the sound of em♪ ♪You better hold me down♪ ♪this whole thing’s blowing up♪ ♪And there ain't no cellar♪ ♪this far above sea level♪ ♪The match is struck♪ ♪and it’s touched me off♪ ♪Now the countdown’s started.

We’ll soon be broken hearted♪ ♪This darkening distance between us♪ ♪I never noticed it growing♪ ♪And your silence I’ve♪ ♪ignored it like a ghost in the attic♪ ♪But suddenly it's roaring♪ ♪So look me♪ ♪in the eyes♪ ♪Tell me it ain't true♪ ♪It ain't true♪ ♪I said look me in my eyes♪ ♪Boy, make me believe you or I'm warning you♪ ♪You better hold me down♪ ♪this whole thing’s♪ ♪blowing up♪ ♪And there ain’t no cellars♪ ♪This far above sea level♪ ♪The match is struck♪ ♪and it’s touched me off♪ ♪Now the countdown started♪ ♪We’ll soon be broken hearted♪ ♪Now the countdown’s started♪ ♪We’ll soon be broken hearted♪ ♪Now the countdown’s started♪ ♪We’ll soon be broken hearted♪ ♪Five.

Four.

Three.♪ ♪Two.

One.♪ ♪Get out of my house♪♪ Alright, when everybody’s ready.

♪♪Don’t offer me your hand♪ ♪Don't spend your time with me♪ ♪And don't give me no encouragement♪ ♪Cause hope just makes me weak♪ ♪Oh, I'm a simple woman♪ ♪With most things I can cope♪ ♪And I can’t stand to sink or swim♪ ♪But I'm ashamed to float♪ ♪Hope♪ ♪Hope♪ ♪I’ve been waiting far too long♪ ♪so quit singing me your song it only points me wrong♪ ♪don't give me hope♪ ♪Some women can’t♪ ♪take lying and some can't be alone♪ ♪But that shining hope’s the evil thing that makes me cry♪ ♪and moan♪ ♪you say that you love me♪ ♪and I'm not sure what that means♪ ♪’cause you think so much more than you say♪ ♪and your silence tortures me♪ ♪Hope♪ ♪I’ve been waiting far too long♪ ♪so quit singing me your songs♪ ♪It only points me wrong♪ ♪Don't give me hope♪ ♪Well kindly♪ ♪keep your♪ ♪favors, waste time with someone else♪ ♪You can love me if you need to♪ ♪but keep it to yourself♪ ♪it’s not hard to♪ ♪balance, we’ll stand♪ ♪or else we’ll fall♪ ♪But this teetering above, my love♪ ♪It just ain't safe at all, Oh♪ ♪Hope♪ ♪I’ve been waiting far too long♪ ♪so quit singing me your songs♪ ♪It only points me wrong♪ ♪Don’t give me hope♪ ♪Only points me wrong♪ ♪Don't give me hope♪♪ That's “Hope” from The Ones to Blame on Amplified.

That's from their 2012 album “Better Times”, as was “Hold Me Down” ahead of that and we started things off with “Thinking About Drinking” from their eponymous debut album from 2006.

So, hello ladies.

- Hello.

- Hi, Glenn.

Thanks for being here.

20 years of The Ones to Blame, how is that possible?

My longest and most functional relationship.

For those who don't know.

Tell us about the roots of the band, how you all came together.

We all played in town.

Jackie and I first, were roommates and played a lot of two chord guitar and went to a party where everyone learned Bruce Springsteen songs, and we played a song there, and it slowly snowballed into meeting Leslie.

Well, I mean, we had a band called Thick as Thieves because, some punk rock dude knocked on her door after that and said, hey, you guys want to start a band?

And we did.

Yeah.

And had a couple of years of that.

And then we ran into Leslie and, she had been in Beaver and Yeah, and all these other bands, and we were thinking about starting a all girl band.

We're hanging at the top.

We hear Sue We heard an angel singing by the jukebox, and it was Sue.

And it was Sue, and said, do you want to be in a band?

But weren't we going to do a cover band initially?

Loretta Lynn.

Cover.

Loretta Lynn cover band for Fest.

We wanted to.

We were yeah, we were going to.

So we and then we had a lot of our own things to say.

Yes, we had a lot of things to say and we still do.

Yeah.

So we ended up just playing Fest with all our originals.

So the Loretta Lynn thing is still a possibility.

I hope so.

I'd love to do some.

We used to do some covers.

Yeah.

We haven't done them in a while.

But, I'd love to get back to that.

But two albums which are favorites of mine, they are so great.

I know things, life has happened over the last 20 years, but, any.

And you guys are still playing, you know, little, little less than you guys used to, but, it's always, you know, worthwhile.

Any any songs being written or, or thoughts about, like, doing another album?

We've just been crawling out from underneath our little rock every once in a while to have a good time.

Some of us have been in other bands and have had other things, but as far as The Ones To Blame, we haven't really pushed for that yet.

But we're having a good time and you never know.

We might, we might start.

So if it happens, it happens.

Yeah, don't push it, Glenn.

I'm happy with whatever y'all decide to do.

So talk about Leslie being back in the band.

She went AWOL for a while.

So I guess that, There was a frightening moment where we thought, will we play as a three piece?

and we played some shows like that, will we play as a four piece?

and then luckily, Jennifer Vito, Jen Vito Jen-archy played with us for our second album and tour and was part of the band for a while.

She is now touring internationally.

And it all timed out perfectly, for Leslie to come back for this time.

During our first tour, we, ran into some members of a band called Dirty Fist under a bridge, playing some songs.

And that's how we got our ears on Leslie's or, Chelsea's playing.

And then it's been, gosh, a decade or more, at least 15 to developing friendship and love.

And we've done a lot of different kinds of projects together.

And so, we're really excited to have Chelsea with us, too.

Super stoked.

Chelsea is, some, some pretty strong glue in Gainesville.

Yeah, indeed.

Lucky to have her.

And we didn't really have a solid lead, a lead musician besides Sue whistling or me playing the harmonica.

Until Chelsea joined us and it's felt right since then.

Thank you, Chelsea.

Well viewers may recognize Chelsea when from when Wax Wings was here.

Previous episodes.

And I'm sure she'll be back with one of her other bands.

As seems like most people end up being on the show more than once.

All right, we, let's do another song So this is, another one from, from Better Times, I guess, isn't it?

Yeah.

So anything you guys want to tell us about.

This song goes out to Victor Lee Wilkerson and his lovely wife, Jen.

Yes.

Yeah.

I, Victor's an old buddy of ours, and I've always love Victor.

He's a funny guy, and I love his name.

And I took his name, and I made him a cheating - cheating terrible person.

No cursing.

You can't get a country band without a murder ballet.

You have to have a murder ballet in a country band.

So, we wrote one about Victor, but we would never murder Victor.

- Never.

Never.

- As long as he behaves himself.

Yeah.

Jenny might.

Now playing Victor Lee, once again Here's The Ones to Blame on Amplified.

♪♪Victor Lee, Victor Lee♪ ♪Why are you so cruel to me♪ ♪Boy,I can hardly see through all my tears♪ ♪And you tell me that you love me♪ ♪but it's so hard to believe♪ ♪When I'm watching♪ ♪you leave, Victor Lee♪ ♪You put on your blackest boots♪ ♪and your favorite three piece suit♪ ♪And I know♪ ♪you’re going out to set the♪ ♪night on fire♪ ♪Oh, I’d leave you if I could♪ ♪I love you more than I should♪ ♪You're the only♪ ♪man I see♪ ♪Victor Lee♪ ♪And if pride comes before I fall♪ ♪Well, I’ve got nowhere to fall at all♪ ♪And no one there to catch me♪ ♪If I do♪ ♪The way you run♪ ♪them streets of town♪ ♪I'd rather see you in the ground♪ ♪Than to share you, than to share you♪ ♪Oh♪ ♪Victor Lee, Victor Lee♪ ♪If you can't stop cheating on me♪ ♪there's only one thing left for me to do♪ ♪Gonna press my lips against your chest♪ ♪as you take your final breath♪ ♪Oh, I love you♪ ♪Oh, I love you♪ ♪Oh boy, I love you♪♪ ♪♪There you sit across a smokey bar♪ ♪Tossin’ em back and talkin’ so smart♪ ♪The right amount of dirty.

The right amount of mean♪ ♪I talk to you all the time in my dreams♪ ♪I say - I’ll bring a fifth of tequila♪ ♪ Baby you’ll bring the limes♪ ♪We'll have a shot or two♪ ♪and then we'll screw the cap back on real tight♪ ♪Night after night I wait for my chance♪ ♪I try and drink up the courage and♪ ♪ask you to dance♪ ♪But my plans are always spoiled.

I just wind up♪ ♪getting drunk♪ ♪Shoutin’ real loud from my friends trunk♪ ♪I shout - I'll bring a fifth of tequila♪ ♪ Baby you bring the limes♪ ♪We'll have a shot or two♪ ♪and then we'll screw the cap back on real tight♪ ♪Tonight’s the night♪ ♪sober I remain♪ ♪I can't let the chance pass me by once again♪ ♪So by 12:45♪ ♪I figure what the heck?♪ ♪That's when you walked up to me and you said♪ ♪You said - I'll bring a fifth of tequila♪ ♪ Baby you bring the limes♪ ♪We'll have a shot or two♪ ♪and then we'll screw the cap back on real tight♪ ♪We'll have a shot or two♪ ♪and then we'll screw the cap back on real tight♪♪ ♪♪I should have left♪ ♪you where you were♪ ♪Where you were♪ ♪Far away from my hard♪ ♪hard, heart♪ ♪I shoulda known not to take you down♪ ♪and dust you off♪ ♪dust you off♪ ♪I know years ago I vowed to put you away (Oh)♪ ♪you fit too well in my hands♪ ♪those days♪ ♪People ask♪ ♪they ask about♪ ♪me and you♪ ♪I'm glad to tell them that I'm sure we are through (through)♪ ♪Woah♪ ♪I shoulda left you where you were♪ ♪where you were♪ ♪Far away from my hard, hard heart♪ ♪I shoulda known not to take you down and♪ ♪dust you off♪ ♪dust you off♪ ♪It seemed a shelf♪ ♪would be a dark, safe place♪ ♪Woah♪ ♪I could tuck awat your sharp, sweet taste♪ ♪Not a shot or a sip could be had♪ ♪you know, being lonely♪ ♪it ain’t always so bad♪ ♪Woah♪ ♪I shoulda left you♪ ♪where you were, where you were♪ ♪far away from my hard,♪ ♪hard heart♪ ♪I shoulda known not to take you down♪ ♪take you down♪ ♪dust you off♪ ♪dust you off♪ ♪Now here♪ ♪you are standing right next to me♪ ♪Woah♪ ♪A tougher girl?

Oh, she’d tuck tail and leave♪ ♪I thought time it could erase your charms♪ ♪But, here I am spinning in your arms♪ ♪arms, arms♪ ♪I shoulda left you where you were♪ ♪Where you were♪ ♪Far away from my hard♪ ♪hard, heart♪ ♪I shoulda known♪ ♪not to take you down and♪ ♪take you down♪ ♪dust you off♪ ♪dust you off♪ ♪dust you off♪ ♪I thought time it could♪ ♪erase your charms♪ ♪but, here I am, spinning in your arms♪ ♪Arms.

Arms.

Arms♪♪ I’ve seen the future and it is women.

Look at all these ladies running this show Yay, you guys.

Ladies!

♪♪Well I might miss the♪ ♪rumble of your voice in your chest♪ ♪when it's pressed against my cheek♪ ♪Being tangled up in♪ ♪your arms laughin’ til we’re both weak♪ ♪But I won't miss♪ ♪the way that we fight♪ ♪I won't miss the way you hide♪ ♪And I won't miss the♪ ♪nasty things you say when you were mad♪ ♪and I sure as well won't miss your pride♪ ♪Well, I remember how it all went down♪ ♪the night it all fell apart♪ ♪How I♪ ♪loved you so much♪ ♪it was a vice on my heart♪ ♪and you sighed like you were breaking♪ ♪when you ran your hands♪ ♪through your hair♪ ♪and the last thing♪ ♪I saw was your back♪ ♪and the last thing I heard were your feet♪ ♪on the stairs♪ ♪Well, I hope if nothing else♪ ♪you now admit when you’re wrong♪ ♪Oh, God♪ ♪I hope you find someone to love♪ ♪that you're not jealous of♪ ♪and I don't want you back♪ ♪but, I do wanna see you, again♪ ♪ And I hope that♪ ♪if I do, you'll be glad to see me, too♪ ♪and the next time we part it’s as friends♪ ♪cause, I remember how it all went down♪ ♪Oh, I remember how it all fell apart♪ ♪I remember♪ ♪How I loved you so much♪ ♪It was a vice on my heart♪ ♪And I remember♪ ♪how you sighed like you were breaking♪ ♪when you ran your hands♪ ♪through your hair♪ ♪The last thing I saw was your back♪ ♪And the last thing I heard were your feet on them♪ ♪gosh darn♪ ♪stairs♪♪ That's “I Remember” from The Ones to Blame on Amplified.

“Shoulda”, “Tequila” and “Victor Lee” ahead of that So our time is winding down, but I want to ask, about the songwriting.

Like, how does that come about?

We all have our individual processes, and then we bring it to the group and work it out, sort of as a group project after that.

So, most of the time there's somebody that's written some lyrics and a tune, a melody, and then bring it to the group and we kind of, work through it and make it a cohesive unit, a hit song.

We just pump out hits.

So is it, safe to say, like, the the lead vocalist is like the primary songwriter or not necessarily.

Leslie brought a lot of material to the band from previous projects, so a few of the songs that I sing are Leslie contributions.

She’s an amazing songwriter, as are Emma and Sue as well.

Everybody in the band can write.

They sing way better than I do, so I just let them go with it.

I love the songs.

I love how there's, I love bands that have multiple vocalists, for one thing.

I mean, Beatles, Bangles.

I mean, it's just a thing of mine.

I just love it.

The variety and then the way you guys harmonize together is just heavenly.

It's just great.

So did that just come naturally?

All just suddenly stare at each other and going, oh my God.

Or was that something you had, to work on or?

I think we all love to sing and we love music, and I think we love unapologetic joy.

And so Blame never really stopped us.

It just gave us a name.

And so late nights or otherwise, song would break out, and so we would sing them together a lot, and you, can unabashedly practice with people, you know, will accept you for where you are when you are there.

And so I found with The Ones to Blame, early on, especially as a guitar player, that I didn't have to worry that I only knew two chords or three chords, where if I sat in on some bands, that would be an issue.

I've come off stages before and had men in the audience asked me to rate myself as a guitar player so they could tell me what they think my rating is.

And it was never like that, playing with women, and that's gotten better, I think, over the years.

But we love to sing and we love to live.

And so to be able to do that without apology, and say, you know, if you got a lot of blame, put it on me.

That's that's fine.

We'll go on anyway.

And I will say too, Sue is never out of key, ever.

She is always completely, 100% like a bell.

And they just all they sing so good together.

It's very it's angelic.

I agree.

Yeah.

It actually is.

Like our, you know, decompression is just for us to get together and for, whatever, and giggles, like, we'll turn anything into a harmony and.

you know, make some magic - We’ve had some pretty wild ones out of some turds.

Yeah.

Yeah, yeah.

It's hard to sing in three part sometimes four part harmony.

And and hear it bad.

And that happens all the time.

And so to be able to recover from that and then try again and laugh it off or record it and listen to it and go, Oh, gosh, oh, I don't want to hear that again.

And be able to make mistakes without feeling like it defines you.

Is is a really special thing.

I'd like to point out that Leslie sang 3.99 wine.

wrote it and sang it on the first album.

So, she actually has a whole song where she sings, and every once in a while we let her out from behind that drum kit and let her sing it with us.

But, she's not doing that today.

She’s over there going, “No”.

Well, the music lives on.

on the albums.

Where's the best place for folks to find out more about The Ones to Blame and get your music?

352.. No, just kidding.

We're on all the the things.

Spotify and YouTube.

to watch or to listen.

So, I mean, you guys have socials that people where you'll announce that, I mean.

There's a, there is a Facebook page.

I don't know if anybody ever checks it.

Well, there you have it.

So, with their anthem, “The Ones to Blame” Here's The Ones to Blame on Amplified.

♪♪Let your heart not be weary♪ ♪Leave your troubles at the door♪ ♪Raise your glass and toast♪ ♪We won't worry anymore♪ ♪When shadows start a falling♪ ♪And night’s starts whispering♪ ♪our names♪ ♪We just go ahead and heed the call♪ ♪we don't care at all♪ ♪We're the ones to blame♪ ♪Oh, Eve with her apple♪ ♪Pandora with her box♪ ♪What’s a girl to do between a hard place and the rocks♪ ♪’Cause, who ain’t fallen for some devil’s eyes♪ ♪or the words he spoke♪ ♪And whose to say♪ ♪it ain’t fair to trade♪ ♪ignorance for hope♪ ♪Let your heart not be weary♪ ♪Leave your troubles at the door♪ ♪Raise your glass and toast, we won’t worry anymore♪ ♪Ever since the dawn of time♪ ♪they’ve been faulting us for all life’s strife♪ ♪and pain♪ ♪Hey hey, hey hey♪ ♪We don't feel no shame at all, at all♪ ♪Call us♪ ♪the ones to blame♪ ♪So we raise a glass and we toast♪ ♪to our mothers’ mothers’ mother♪ ♪and all the ones who came before♪ ♪And all the battles still to be fought♪ ♪Until we win the war♪ ♪Oh, let your heart not be weary♪ ♪Leave your troubles at the door♪ ♪We’re still at war.

Raise your glass and toast♪ ♪we won’t worry anymore♪ ♪Ever since the dawn of time♪ ♪They’ve been faulting us for all life’s♪ ♪strife and pain♪ ♪Hey hey, hey hey♪ ♪We don't feel no shame at all♪ ♪at all, call us the ones to blame♪ ♪call her Chelsea Carnes♪ ♪Well let your heart not be weary♪ ♪Leave your troubles at the door♪ ♪Raise your glass and toast♪ ♪We won't worry anymore♪ ♪Ever since the dawn of time♪ ♪They’ve been faulting us for all life’s♪ ♪strife and pain♪ ♪It’s always the same damn thing♪ ♪We don't feel no shame at all♪ ♪at all♪ ♪call us the ones to blame♪ ♪We don't feel no shame at all♪ ♪Meet us at last call♪ ♪We're the ones to blame♪♪ That's “The Ones to Blame” by The Ones To Blame from their 2012 album Better Times.

Learn more about Amplified and see past episodes at wuft.org/amplified.

I'm Glenn Richards, thank you to The Ones To Blame for being here Thank you for checking us out.

We’ll see you next time.

♪And don't give me no encouragement♪ ♪Cause hope just makes me weak♪ ♪Oh, I'm a simple woman♪ ♪With most things I can cope♪ ♪And I can’t stand to sink or swim♪ ♪But I'm ashamed to float♪ ♪Hope♪ ♪Hope♪